Posted on Nov 15, 2016
What are the different types of military discharges and what do each represent?
31.3K
91
54
4
4
0
What are some benefits of each discharge?
Can they be changed?
Can they be changed?
Posted in these groups: 
Discharge
Honorable Discharge
Discharge Honorable Discharge
Posted 8 y ago
Responses: 19
16
16
0
10
10
0
When I chaptered a soldier out for DWI, drugs (I did give a second chance to anyone), or just not being a match for the service I processed them out honorably. Why? They usually were still in their 20s and I was basically firing them, not trying to ruin the rest of their lives. Now I had a few that got chaptered for violent acts, dealing, or theft and they got generals or went by the Courts Martial recommendation.
(10)
(0)
CPT Tom Monahan
Folks, thank you for the praise, but I fear it may be misplaced. I found a typo on my original post. To be clear, I did NOT give anyone who I caught hot on a piss test a second chance. I did have a standing rule that if you came to the CoC with a issue with drugs we'd get you help and "keep or discharge" based on what the Medical folks suggested. Still, users got Honorable Discharges if I caught them or if Medical suggested that I discharge them and put them in a VA program. Please understand that my unit handle food warehousing, water purification, fuel (including old JP4 - boom), ammo, maintenance (my maintenance section was actually a 40+ soldier platoon w/ a WO) and highly pilfirable stuff including weapons. I could not have any durggies for safety and theft reasons. Sorry if my typo caused any confusion. I wish RP had an edit function like FB has.
(1)
(0)
MSgt Daniel Armstrong
Second chances and not wanting to ruin lives is good. But needs to be balanced and not taken to far. If too many troops get a good discharge, even thou they were dirt bags, you start to diminish the worth of that honorable discharge.
(0)
(0)
CPT Tom Monahan
MSGT Armstrong: I had a rehab transfer that my 1SG and I gave the "up or out" speech to. The General discharge chapter was ready to go (guy was worthless). He had PT related a line of duty injury that required surgery. Long story short, the Doc screwed up a surgery and he got medically retired out of the Medical Holding Company. Thoughts.
(0)
(0)
9
9
0
Types of Discharges are Honorable, General, Other than Honorable (OTH), Bad Conduct Dischrage (BCD), Dishonorable, Medical just to name a few without getting into specifics.
Honorable is as it is, you served your time without any NJPs (non-judicial punishments).
General. This can vary depending on situations. Some which can be based on NJPs, medical with a short time in service (being diagnosed with asthma, pregnancy up to 20 weeks, etc.)
OTH: This can be stemmed from NJPs, AWOL/UA situations just to name a few.
BCD: UCMJ based, mostly from disobeying a direct order to assault on senior enlisted, same rank or officer, etc.
Dishonorable: Worst (IMHO). Stemmed from serious criminal charges brought up from UCMJ violations. If it's bad like manslaughter, DUI, murder, arson, etc. this is what comes about.
BUT......sometimes those charges can be dropped for a lesser punishment and it can change the level of discharge.
To answer about changing/upgrading your discharge: ( I quoted because I got it from militarywallet.com).
"In some situations, you may be eligible to apply to have your military discharge upgraded to a higher rating. However, despite, the rumors, there is no automatic upgrade process. You must apply to have your discharge upgraded by downloading DD Form 293 –Application for the Review of Discharge or Dismissal from the Armed Forces of the United States. You must then submit the form to the Discharge Review Board within 15 years of your discharge. If your discharge was more than 15 years ago, you must request a change to your military records."
EDIT: The honorable discharge portion, is dependent on your record and time of service. Things can happen and yet it's not serious enough to lose an honorable discharge.
Honorable is as it is, you served your time without any NJPs (non-judicial punishments).
General. This can vary depending on situations. Some which can be based on NJPs, medical with a short time in service (being diagnosed with asthma, pregnancy up to 20 weeks, etc.)
OTH: This can be stemmed from NJPs, AWOL/UA situations just to name a few.
BCD: UCMJ based, mostly from disobeying a direct order to assault on senior enlisted, same rank or officer, etc.
Dishonorable: Worst (IMHO). Stemmed from serious criminal charges brought up from UCMJ violations. If it's bad like manslaughter, DUI, murder, arson, etc. this is what comes about.
BUT......sometimes those charges can be dropped for a lesser punishment and it can change the level of discharge.
To answer about changing/upgrading your discharge: ( I quoted because I got it from militarywallet.com).
"In some situations, you may be eligible to apply to have your military discharge upgraded to a higher rating. However, despite, the rumors, there is no automatic upgrade process. You must apply to have your discharge upgraded by downloading DD Form 293 –Application for the Review of Discharge or Dismissal from the Armed Forces of the United States. You must then submit the form to the Discharge Review Board within 15 years of your discharge. If your discharge was more than 15 years ago, you must request a change to your military records."
EDIT: The honorable discharge portion, is dependent on your record and time of service. Things can happen and yet it's not serious enough to lose an honorable discharge.
(9)
(0)
LCpl Jeffrey Burcham
There is no such thing as a Medical specific type of discharge. You can still get an Honorable or general but because of medical issues. Short time in service is now called an Uncharacterized Entry Level Separation. I know, I worked at NPRC with military records for 12 years before transferring over to the VA for the past 10 plus years. Other than that, you got it correct PO2. I have seen discharges though that were Honorable with RE-4 codes. Have seen people get NJP's and still get an Honorable discharge. Have seen General, Under Honorable Conditions with no NJP's but low Pro/Con marks, on the proficiency side, so a lot of times, there is no rhyme or reason and it varies from branch to branch a lot.
(0)
(0)
Sgt Robert Jolley
I know for a fact that you can have a special court martial, be found guilty, and receive an honorable discharge....the honorable discharge is hanging on my wall.
(0)
(0)
LCpl Waliq Knolle
I got an OTH due to separation in Lieu of trial for a court martial I would have won but after over 4 months of being in the brig past my eas date I really wasn't trying to spend another 2 in there especially with all the life problems I had going on on the outside. Though being in the brig completely fucked my credit score because I stopped getting paid the day I went to the brig. Sure I got backpayed for the time I was in there but by then my cars were already repossessed and a lot of stuff was in collections.
(0)
(0)
SrA Britney Sharpe
Maj Reams, that is NOT what's happening. I got a njp and 45 days of extra duty for a new years day surprise dorm inspection at 5 am and I had empty beer bottles in my trash( several buddies were over to celebrate because my room had everything technologically), and I got hit with underage drinking ( 13 days before my 21birthday) even though I wasn't drinking ( still don't as it doesn't agree with my stomach-i have stress ulcers since I was about 12). The guy that brought the beer denied it because he had been in trouble several times already for contributing to a minor and literally hung me out to dry. So I took that hit over the head.
It only got bad when I had to leave my permanent duty station to go back to my training station to testify in a court martial against the man that had raped me. Then shit really went to hell. When I came home a few days later somehow everyone knew where I went and what happened and then I was treated like a leper. O was called everything imaginable, a traitor, how could you turn on a brother etc
My vehicle was repeatedly vandalized, my dorm broken into and expensive PC smashed to bits, furniture ripped to shreds. Anonymous threats were taped to my door or car regularly. Or written in shaving cream on my paint(car).
And instead of the jackasses doing all of it getting into trouble I was called into the CO office and dressed down by the col. I got told about myself by anyone who had a mouth that had no problem letting me know I was a POS.
It took a few more months but I was finally thrown out ( not at my own request- I asked for a transfer of duty station) with a general under honorable conditions..
So, no, not everyone is being treated okay or even fairly. Apparently you still have to own a penis.
It only got bad when I had to leave my permanent duty station to go back to my training station to testify in a court martial against the man that had raped me. Then shit really went to hell. When I came home a few days later somehow everyone knew where I went and what happened and then I was treated like a leper. O was called everything imaginable, a traitor, how could you turn on a brother etc
My vehicle was repeatedly vandalized, my dorm broken into and expensive PC smashed to bits, furniture ripped to shreds. Anonymous threats were taped to my door or car regularly. Or written in shaving cream on my paint(car).
And instead of the jackasses doing all of it getting into trouble I was called into the CO office and dressed down by the col. I got told about myself by anyone who had a mouth that had no problem letting me know I was a POS.
It took a few more months but I was finally thrown out ( not at my own request- I asked for a transfer of duty station) with a general under honorable conditions..
So, no, not everyone is being treated okay or even fairly. Apparently you still have to own a penis.
(0)
(0)
Read This Next
Continue with Facebook 
Continue with Google